TV Tuesday: Keeping Up Appearances - A Very Merry Hyacinth (1991)

 

Keeping Up Appearances - 1991

Coming up next on this edition of TV Tuesday is 1991's Christmas episode of "Keeping Up Appearances".  Entitled "A Very Merry Hyacinth", this episode sees Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet) as she tries to create the perfect Christmas.  Things don't go according to plan.

The episodes cast includes Patricia Routledge, Clive Swift, Josephine Tewson, Judy Cornwell, Geoffrey Hughes, Mary Millar, David Griffin, and Jeremy Gittins.

It's Christmastime at the Bucket residence, and Hyacinth is overjoyed that she's received a record-breaking 112 Christmas cards.  Her husband Richard asks, "Are they genuine or are they more of those you've written to yourself?"  Calmly, Hyacinth explains, "I regard it as a service to those people who may have misplaced my address.  I'm sure they'd like to think they'd sent me a card."

Later, Richard is less than cooperative when Hyacinth dresses him up as Father Christmas.  He is due at the church hall to distribute gifts of the old folks.  He doesn't want to do it at all, but Hyacinth impresses upon him the importance of the job.  He feels ridiculous all dressed up.  Hyacinth gets annoyed that he's not more in the spirit of the holiday.

She forces him outside so that he can go next door and get the opinion of their neighbor Elizabeth and her brother Emmet.

Emmet can't help but poke a little bit of fun.  "I thought you were supposed to use the chimney," he says with a smile and a barely concealed laugh.

Elsewhere, Hyacinth's youngest sister Rose is excited about her new boyfriend, a Mr. Sudbury, who loves to dance.  (The way they greet each other and fly into each other's arms is hilarious.)

Sister Daisy and brother-in-law Onslow have very different reactions to the unfolding scene.  Daisy thinks it's very romantic, while Onslow can't quite believe what he's watching.

Richard ends up spending a lot of time over at Elizabeth and Emmet's house.  He and Emmet have a grand time drinking and singing Christmas songs.  When Hyacinth is ready for Richard to drive her to the church hall, Elizabeth finds them both drunk.  Richard is in no condition to drive.

So, Elizabeth takes the Father Christmas outfit from Richard and discreetly pretends to be him so that Hyacinth doesn't suspect anything is the matter.

Naturally, you can imagine Hyacinth's shock when later she sees "Richard" and her brother-in-law Onslow kissing under some mistletoe.  Onslow, Daisy, and Rose are at the church hall because Daddy has gone missing.

Hyacinth doesn't have time for explanations.  Her main concern is that everyone gets out of there without being spotted.  She's horribly embarrassed by everything that's happened.  She gets Daddy out (dressed in a cat costume because he's mislaid his clothes).  She disguises herself as Father Christmas so that no one will recognize her.

She's in for a big surprise when Onslow assumes it's still Elizabeth in the outfit and rushes up to kiss her under some of his own mistletoe.  Richard and Elizabeth have a chuckle from a distance.

Hyacinth is mortified!  She struggles to regain her composure.  "I suppose that's what Christmas is all about," she says by way of comforting herself.

Meanwhile, Rose has found Emmet, and in the Christmas spirit, she is feverishly kissing the poor, shocked man.

While shielding Daddy from the sins of his youngest daughter, Hyacinth orders Rose to release Emmet.  The vicar comes out of the church hall and Hyacinth yells, "Rose, there's the vicar!"

"Thank you, Hyacinth," says Rose.  She turns to the bewildered vicar and plants a big kiss on his lips.  "Happy Christmas, Vicar," she says.

Hyacinth manages to separate Rose and the vicar.  After things calm down, she suggests they all return to her house to partake of mulled wine and hot mince pies.  Everyone excitedly piles into the cars.

Cast rundown:

   Patricia Routledge................................Hyacinth Bucket

   Clive Swift..........................................Richard Bucket

   Josephine Tewson................................Elizabeth Warden

   Judy Cornwell......................................Daisy

   Geoffrey Hughes..................................Onslow

   Mary Millar..........................................Rose

   David Griffin........................................Emmet Hawksworth

   Jeremy Gittins.....................................The Vicar

And that's it for this episode of "Keeping Up Appearances".  It's such a great Christmas special.  My favorite line from the show comes when Hyacinth is discussing her family, whose habits and manners she is at pains to be at ease with.  She tells her husband, "They are my family and I love them dearly.  Especially at this time of year when it gets dark early."

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